Articles and Blogs

On Thursday, November 2, 2017, Republicans in the House of Representatives released the text and summary of H.R.1, their promised tax reform bill. The short title of the bill is the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” It is the first substantive shot fired in the tax reform war that the Republican leadership intends to wage... READ MORE

On Wednesday, September 28, 2017, the Trump administration and the so-called “Big 6” revealed an outline for tax reform entitled “Unified Framework For Fixing Our Broken Tax Code.” The Big 6 include Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House... READ MORE

Most employers are familiar with the scrutiny afforded non-compete agreements. However, many don’t realize that there are other forms of restrictive covenants potentially subject to that same scrutiny. Today, September 5, 2017, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be asked to decide whether the state’s law that limits the enforceability of non-compete agreements applies to... READ MORE

The Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) has “suspended indefinitely” the compliance date for the new pay data reporting requirements on the EEO-1 report. Private employers with at least 100 employees will still be required to annually file EEO-1 reports, but the scope of the report will be limited to the same “race/ethnicity and... READ MORE

On August 29, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that adjustment of status applications based on employment and refugee/asylee petitions will be subject to in-person interviews with immigration officers beginning October 1, 2017. USCIS POLICY CHANGE Although Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) regulations provide a legal basis for requiring all adjustment of... READ MORE

On August 18, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) issued a statement confirming numerous reports of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) denying Form I-131 Applications for Advance Parole where applicants exited the U.S. while the applications were pending. These denials have occurred even where applicants possessed separate, valid advance parole documents or... READ MORE

As we reported in a previous article, the Third Circuit recently decided in Doe v. Mercy[1] that: 1) the medical residency program of the facility being sued in that case was an “educational program or activity” under Title IX; and 2) the medical resident had standing to sue under Title IX even though the... READ MORE

It is no secret that physician recruitment in rural areas can be challenging for hospitals and other health care entities. Though some doctors may be drawn to living in areas with less hustle and bustle, many prefer areas with larger populations and more opportunities. Rural health care needs are sometimes difficult to address, but... READ MORE

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced on July 24, 2017 that it would resume premium processing for certain cap-exempt H-1B petitions effective immediately. Premium processing allows petitioners to pay a fee to receive a decision from USCIS within 15 calendar days. Without premium processing, wait times can extend for long periods, which delays... READ MORE

All employers know that the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) is the agency responsible for enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act – the federal law establishing minimum wage and overtime requirements for nearly every employer in the country. What you may not know is that the DOL can audit your workplace with or without... READ MORE